The Herbs of the Path by Natsume Soseki

Review of the book “The Herbs of the Path” by Natsume Soseki

“The Herbs of the Road” (Japanese, “Michikusa”) is a short novel written by Japanese author Natsume Soseki, originally published in 1906. The story focuses on the life of a young university student named Soseki, who faces a series of challenges and difficulties in his daily life as he tries to find his place in the world.

The novel begins with Soseki, a college student of English literature, who lives alone in a small room in Tokyo. Despite his efforts to integrate into society, he feels isolated and disoriented, and suffers from profound loneliness. The only person he has regular contact with is his landlady, a kind but demanding woman who provides him with food and a place to live.

Soseki spends much of his time reading and writing, and often finds himself reflecting on his life and his place in the world. One of Soseki’s main concerns is her future, and her uncertainty about what career to pursue after graduating from college. Throughout the novel, Soseki meets several interesting characters who give him a different perspective on life and help him understand her own situation.

One of these characters is a mysterious woman named Oyone, who becomes Soseki’s main source of inspiration and motivation. Oyone is a seemingly fragile and vulnerable woman who has suffered a lot in life, but still maintains a positive and optimistic attitude. Soseki is drawn to Oyone’s strength and determination, and realizes that she is the person he has been missing in her life.

As the novel progresses, Soseki begins to feel more confident in himself and begins to make plans for his future. He realizes that his love of English literature is not enough to ensure his success in life, and begins to explore other possibilities. Through his encounters with Oyone and other characters, Soseki learns to be more open and accept help and support from others.

It is considered his most autobiographical work, as it reflects his personal experiences and his pessimistic view of life. The novel tells the story of Kenzo, an English teacher who returns to Japan after having lived in England. Kenzo feels alienated and lonely in his native country, where he does not get along with his wife or his adoptive parents. One day, he encounters a mysterious hatless man who reminds him of his childhood and makes him question his identity and his destiny. Through the encounters and disagreements of the characters, Soseki shows the contrast between tradition and modernity, individualism and collectivism, the past and the present. The herbs of the road is a deep and melancholic novel, which expresses the feeling of rootlessness and nostalgia of a man searching for his place in the world.

“The Herbs of the Path” is a subtle and emotional novel that explores universal themes such as loneliness, uncertainty and the search for oneself. Soseki’s prose is clear and concise, but also rich in nuance and detail, giving the story a depth and complexity that is not evident to the naked eye. The novel is also notable for its vivid and realistic portrayal of life in Tokyo in the early 20th century, making it an important work of modern Japanese literature.

In summary, “The Herbs of the Road” is a moving and well-written novel that offers a unique insight into life in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century. Soseki’s story is a reflection on the loneliness and uncertainty we all face at some point in our lives, and his search for meaning and purpose is a source of inspiration for any reader who feels lost in the world.